---
title: "The Empire Strikes Back"
year: 1980
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-empire-strikes-back"
fi1m_id: "the-empire-strikes-back"
imdb_id: "tt0080684"
tmdb_id: 1891
wikidata_id: "Q181795"
fi1m_score: 92
critics_score: 70
critics_reviews: 10
published: "2026-09-15"
updated: "2026-09-18T08:38:32.493068+00:00"
region: "US"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Directed by Irvin Kershner · 2h 04m · MPA PG · Adventure, Action, Science Fiction

## Identity

The Empire Strikes Back

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/the-empire-strikes-back
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** the-empire-strikes-back
- **IMDb ID:** tt0080684
- **TMDB ID:** 1891
- **Wikidata ID:** Q181795
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080684/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/1891, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q181795

**Fi1m score: 92** · Critics 70 from 10 reviews

*In a sentence:* The walking tanks are alarming, but the teacher looks harder to please

> Irvin Kershner makes the machinery frightening and the people worth worrying about. A few solemn lessons slow *The Empire Strikes Back*, but its action, humour and feeling justify the darker turn.

## Synopsis

Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) face new dangers in the continuing *Star Wars* saga. Their paths take them through a succession of inhospitable worlds. Luke’s training raises questions about the Force and what he needs to learn before facing the challenges ahead. David Prowse plays Darth Vader, Frank Oz voices Yoda and Billy Dee Williams appears as Lando Calrissian. Battles, lessons and encounters with unfamiliar machinery form an adventure in which the characters reconsider what they know and how far their abilities will carry them.

## Review

*The Empire Strikes Back* is an adventure sequel that earns its seriousness, and we recommend it without requiring any special affection for the saga. Irvin Kershner gives the familiar characters time to argue, hesitate and think, while keeping the danger close enough to interrupt them. George Lucas’s story allows the heroes to be uncertain about what they are doing. Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan’s screenplay gives that uncertainty consequences without letting it take over every conversation.

Mark Hamill gives Luke Skywalker an impatience that makes the training scenes engaging in their own right. He looks like someone who wants the lesson over before he has understood it, and that is a useful fault in an adventure hero. Harrison Ford’s Han Solo and Carrie Fisher’s Princess Leia supply a different kind of impatience: their exchanges have the pleasure of people refusing to concede anything. Kershner lets the irritation last long enough to become funny.

Yoda could easily make those lessons unbearable. Frank Oz’s voice gives him enough mischief to puncture the solemnity, while Luke’s difficulty in listening keeps the instruction attached to a recognisable failing. It helps that the pupil is allowed to find the whole business frustrating. Brackett and Kasdan make the disagreement entertaining even when the subject threatens to become homework.

We were frightened by the Imperial Walkers: their bulk makes the people facing them look terribly exposed. The effects work because the machines seem able to hurt somebody, not simply because they are elaborate. Peter Suschitzky lets darkness gather around the characters, so that even a conversation can feel unsafe. His cinematography sustains the threat between the large set-pieces without making the action difficult to follow.

Norman Reynolds gives each world a distinct character, so that a change of location alters the sort of trouble we expect. Cloud City is worth looking at in its own right, yet the production design never reduces the actors to visitors on a guided tour. John Williams gives the military music a heavy tread, making the machines seem still harder to stop. The score’s grandeur is useful here: these dangers need to feel serious if the humour is going to offer any relief.

Marcia Lucas and Paul Hirsch’s editing keeps the separate strands moving without treating the quieter passages as dead time. The shifts from instruction to action usually arrive before either has exhausted its welcome. There are stretches when another exchange about the Force feels like one exchange too many, and some of the machinery has lost the surprise of a first encounter. But the action remains clear, and Kershner trusts the performers to hold our attention without an effect behind them.

The critical consensus is cooler than our verdict. We disagree with the complaint that machinery crowds out the people: Luke’s impatience and Han and Leia’s arguments are precisely why the danger matters. For a space adventure, the film spends a welcome amount of time letting its heroes be difficult company. It is worth showing to someone who thinks a space adventure cannot give its actors anything interesting to do.

*Fi1m score 92, published 15 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics favour The Empire Strikes Back, with praise clustering around Kershner’s direction, the special effects and the darker treatment of familiar characters. Supporters find that the sequel gives its action more emotional weight, allowing character development and philosophical questions to sit alongside the set-pieces. The inventive worlds and creatures are a recurring pleasure, while several reviews argue that the storytelling is tighter and more thoughtful than in the original.

The spread is wide, however, and the disagreements extend beyond whether the sequel feels fresh. Where admirers see greater depth, detractors find ponderous discussions, mechanical plotting and machinery crowding out the people. The Telegraph finds too little characterisation to make the action matter, while Sight and Sound regards the effects as a substitute for story and finds even the Yoda sequence unimaginative. The central division is over whether the added seriousness enriches the adventure or makes it tiresome.

## Straight answers

**Is The Empire Strikes Back worth watching?**

*The Empire Strikes Back* is worth watching, and we scored it 92, our recommendation carrying no requirement for any special affection for the saga. Irvin Kershner makes the Imperial Walkers frightening and lets Luke, Han and Leia be difficult, funny company. A few exchanges about the Force run one too many, which is the only serious complaint.

**How long is The Empire Strikes Back, and what is it rated?**

*The Empire Strikes Back* runs 2h 04m and is rated PG by the MPA in the US. It is an adventure and action film.

**Where can I watch The Empire Strikes Back in the US?**

*The Empire Strikes Back* is streaming on Disney+ in the US, and it is also available to rent from Amazon Prime Video from $3.99. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How does The Empire Strikes Back compare to Star Wars?**

*The Empire Strikes Back* is darker and more serious than [*Star Wars*](https://film.one/film/star-wars), and we think it the better film, since its danger has weight and its heroes are allowed to hesitate. The earlier film is the funnier and the easier to follow, with fewer solemn lessons. Anyone wanting well-managed fun should start there; anyone wanting the characters to matter should prefer the sequel.

**Do you need to have seen the other Star Wars films before The Empire Strikes Back?**

*The Empire Strikes Back* is a continuation of [*Star Wars*](https://film.one/film/star-wars), and a newcomer will get more from it having seen that film first. It does not stand alone: Luke, Han and Leia arrive already acquainted, and their arguments assume we know them. We would not recommend it as a starting point, though its action is clear enough to follow without notes.

**What should I watch after The Empire Strikes Back?**

After *The Empire Strikes Back*, try [*A Matter of Life and Death*](https://film.one/film/a-matter-of-life-and-death) (1946, Fi1m 92): A fantastical adventure that makes its impossible machinery serve recognisably human feelings. Then [*Forbidden Planet*](https://film.one/film/forbidden-planet) (1956, Fi1m 81): An unfamiliar world turns space adventure towards questions its visitors would rather avoid; and [*Castle in the Sky*](https://film.one/film/castle-in-the-sky) (1986, Fi1m 82): Flying machines, threatened friendships and young heroes learning what power can cost.

**What order should I watch the Star Wars films in?**

Release order is the safe choice for Star Wars, and it is the order [our collection page](https://film.one/collections/star-wars) lists them in. *The Empire Strikes Back* is number 2 of the 9 Star Wars titles on Fi1m; before it comes [*Star Wars*](https://film.one/film/star-wars) and after it [*Return of the Jedi*](https://film.one/film/return-of-the-jedi). [The full order.](https://film.one/collections/star-wars.md)

### Reviews we read (11)

- **Radio Times** (5/5): Kershner's direction gives the film an epic dimension with a mature, philosophical aspect alongside brilliant effects. It darkens the imagery and deepens the narrative with provocative plot strands and character development. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-1p1u3k/star-wars-episode-v-the-empire-strikes-back/)
- **RogerEbert.com**, Roger Ebert (4/4): The best of the three Star Wars films and the most thought-provoking, plunging into darkness and despair while surrendering to the story's mystery. It is a visual extravaganza worth seeing for its inventive sights like the Imperial Walkers, Cloud City, and especially Yoda. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-empire-strikes-back-1997)
- **Time Out**, JO'C (5/5): This is the tautest Star Wars installment, ricocheting between incendiary set-pieces while attending to plot, pace and character development. Luke's training and the Bespin confrontation deepen the narrative stakes. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/star-wars-episode-v-the-empire-strikes-back)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Arthur Knight (80/100, inferred): The critic finds it a worthy successor to the original Star Wars, a rattling good entertainment that is far and away the best of its kind since the first film. He singles out Kershner's direction for making the familiar characters more human and the special effects for being virtually flawless. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/empire-strikes-back-review-1980-movie-752672/)
- **Variety**, James Harwood (80/100, inferred): A worthy sequel equal in technical mastery and characterization to the original, with strong performances, new visual marvels, and believable elements drawn from classic film frameworks. It suffers slightly from overfamiliarity with effects and excessive saber duels but is poised for strong box office. [Read](https://variety.com/1980/film/reviews/the-empire-strikes-back-1200424800/)
- **The Guardian**, Derek Malcolm (55/100, inferred): The critic views the film as a technically proficient sequel that is a sure commercial hit but slightly less fresh and a bit boring compared to the original. Special effects and direction are praised while the story and some elements like extended Force discussions are noted as tiresome. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/may/22/star-wars-review-empire-strikes-back-archive)
- **The New York Times**, Vincent Canby (40/100, inferred): A nice but bland and inoffensive sequel that is not as fresh, funny, surprising or witty as the first film, feeling like the middle of a comic book or a mechanical operation. It is silly and tiresome in patches, with the director and some cast members panned. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/1980/06/15/archives/film-view-the-empire-strikes-back-strikes-a-bland-note-film-view-a.html)
- **Sight and Sound**, Richard Combs (30/100, inferred): The critic finds the sequel overly reliant on special effects and gimmicks that institutionalize the fun of the original, with story and characters taking a backseat. Human elements feel second-hand and the Yoda sequence lacks imagination. [Read](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/empire-strikes-back-archive-review-return-gimmicks)
- **The Telegraph**, Eric Shorter (30/100, inferred): The review advises not to seek meaning in the film and criticizes its grandiloquent approach, emphasis on machinery, and lack of characterization, making it hard to care about the characters or plot. [Read](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/star-wars-episode-v-empire-strikes-back-review-hard-care/)
- **Empire**, Ian Nathan: The critic declares it the best of the original Star Wars trilogy, praising its sophisticated storytelling and emotional depth over the first film. They single out the array of inhospitable worlds and the masterful direction of the climactic confrontation for particular acclaim. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/star-wars-episode-v-empire-strikes-back-review/)
- **Eye for Film**, Scott Macdonald (95/100, inferred): The critic calls it the single best sequel ever made and praises its vigorous storytelling, character development through action and meditation, and spectacular, detailed moviemaking that blends dark delights with inventive effects and humor. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/star-wars-episode-5-the-empire-strikes-back-film-review-by-scott-macdonald)

## Details

- **Director:** Irvin Kershner
- **Director:** Irvin Kershner
- **Screenplay:** Lawrence Kasdan, Leigh Brackett
- **Story:** George Lucas
- **Cinematography:** Peter Suschitzky
- **Editor:** Marcia Lucas, Paul Hirsch
- **Music:** John Williams
- **Production design:** Norman Reynolds
- **Costume design:** John Mollo
- **Producer:** Gary Kurtz, Howard G. Kazanjian
- **Cast:** Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker; Harrison Ford as Han Solo; Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia; Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian; Anthony Daniels as C-3PO; David Prowse as Darth Vader; Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca; Kenny Baker as R2-D2
- **Runtime:** 2h 04m
- **Certificate (MPA):** PG
- **Release (the US):** 20 June 1980
- **Genres:** Adventure, Action, Science Fiction
- **Part of:** [Star Wars](https://film.one/collections/star-wars.md) · 2 of 9
- **Budget:** $18 million
- **Box office:** $538 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vU6L3jXt2r8

## Where to watch in the US

- Disney+: streaming, uhd
- Amazon Prime Video: rent $3.99, uhd
- Amazon Prime Video: buy $19.99, uhd

*Checked 2026-09-15.*

Also available in: AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, IE, IN, IS, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, TR, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## Awards

- Academy Awards 1981: Best Original Score (nominated); Best Production Design (nominated); Best Sound (won)
- Hugo Awards 1981: Best Dramatic Presentation (won)
- Saturn Awards 1981: Best Science Fiction Film (won)

## If you liked this

- *A Matter of Life and Death* (1946), Fi1m 92: A fantastical adventure that makes its impossible machinery serve recognisably human feelings. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/a-matter-of-life-and-death.md)
- *Forbidden Planet* (1956), Fi1m 81: An unfamiliar world turns space adventure towards questions its visitors would rather avoid. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/forbidden-planet.md)
- *Castle in the Sky* (1986), Fi1m 82: Flying machines, threatened friendships and young heroes learning what power can cost. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/castle-in-the-sky.md)
- *The City of Lost Children* (1995), Fi1m 78: Elaborate machinery surrounds a rescue story with a surprisingly tender centre. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-city-of-lost-children.md)
- *Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World* (2003), Fi1m 86: For the pleasure of capable people arguing while a dangerous pursuit keeps moving. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/master-and-commander-the-far-side-of-the-world.md)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/the-empire-strikes-back